Refrigerating method and apparatus



Aug. 30, 1932 D. N. cRosTHwAl-r, JR 1,874,912

REFRIGERATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1930 lill u11111111111111111111/lll/11111111111111111114 +Il F? we/MW ,jim/,

Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED sTATEs yPATEISVT; oFFlcE DAVID N'. CROSTEWAIT, JR., OF MABSHALLTOWN, IOWA, ASSIGNOR. TO C. IDUNHAM COMPANY, F MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA., A CORPORATION OF IOWA REFBJGERATING vZIYETHOID A ND APPARATUS Application filed August 2 2, 1930.v Serial No. 477,073.

This invention .relates to a new and .im-Y

proved refrigerating process and apparatus,

refrigerating element so as to withdraw the vaporized refrigerant therefrom and reduce the pressure therein so4 that further liquid refrigerant will bevaporized. The vapor-- ized refrigerant is carried back into the compression tank along with the liquid stream of the hurling circuitl passing through the jet eXhauster, the vaporized refrigerant being compressed in the storage tank and thenv iiowing or being drawn into ja condenser where it is cooled and condensed to liquid form before being returned to the refrigerating coil. According to the particular improvements of this invention, a stream of the high pressure liquid refrigerant from the compression tank is forced, by the same means which forces the liquid refrigerant through the jet exhauster, through the condense-r where it acts as a means of drawingA in the compressed vaporized refrigerant from vaporized refrlgerant as w1ll be hereinafter the compression tank, and Hows on together with the condensed refrigerant into the evaporator.

The general object-of this invention is to provide a new and improved refrigerating process and apparatus of the type briefly described hereinabove and disclosed more in detail in the specications which follow.

Another `object is to provide a refrigerating process 'and apparatus in which the energy of a moving body of the refrigerating -medium is utilized to lower `the pressure in the evaporating coil and increase the pressure in the condenser, and to also act as a conveying medium for causing a proper circulation of the vaporized refrigerant.'

Another obJect is to provide, in asystem 'l of the type hereinabove set forth, mea-ns for utilizing a stream of liquid refrigerant for causing a yflow of compressed vaporized refrigerant into the condenser, and forcing the condensed refrigerant from `the condenser into the evaporator.

Anoth'er object is to provide a simple, eiiicient and economical means and method to compress and condense a' refrigerating medium and create proper circulation through the refrigerating apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptionbf one approved form of apparatus operating according to the principles of thisinvention.

In the accompanying drawing: The gure shows a diagrammatic elevation,

partially in section, of the assembled refrigerating apparatus.

The principal features ofthe apparatus cqmprise a compressor A, a condenser B, an

expansion valve C, an evaporating coil or refrigerating element D, and a jet exhauster E which functions to create the necessary apparent.

A centrifugal pump 4 is driven' through shaft 5 from an electric motor 6 which is controlled through starter 7 by a thermostat 8 positioned so as to be responsive to temperature changes in the refrigerating coil D. The thermostat 8is connected with star-ter 7 through wires 9 and 10, and the power supply for the motors is indicated by wires 11 The pump 4 withdraws liquid refrigerant from tank 1 through pipe 13 having an enlarged inlet end 1 4 'in order to lessen the velocity of the liquid atthis point. This' lit projected into the tank from delivery tube 19.

liquid" refrigerant is discharged from pump 4 through pipe 15 into` receiving chamber 16 from which a jet of Vli uid lrefrigerant is projected from nozzle' 1 through the eX- hausting chamber 18 into Adelivery tube 19 and thence back into tank 1. AA vacuum is thus created in exhausting chamber 18 which causes vaporized refrigerant to be drawn in through pipe 20 from the evaporator D, this vaporized refrigerant being entrained in the jet and forced into the compression and separating tank 1. This tank is preferably equipped in its upper portion with baille plates 21 and 22 adapted to break the force arate'the liquid and the vapors which -are and connecting'with the upper end of tube 25 through which refrigerant passes into and through the condenser B. By 'means 3a of this pipe 29, 'a constant stream -of liquid refrigerant is forced by pump 4 from storage tank 1 into and through the condenser B,

this liquid stream serving to help draw in the compressed vaporized refrigerant from o space 3 in tank 1 and carry same through the condenser B. If desired a jet exhauster as indicated in dotted lines at F may be used to increase the action of the liquid stream from pipe 29 in drawing vapor through pipe 23 from tank 1. A s this vapqrized refrigerant is condensed, it unites with the liquid stream from pipe 29 and all of this compressed and liquefied refrigerant passes into receiving chamber 31 and thence through pipe 32 to the expansion valve C which feeds the refri erant in limited quantities into'the evaporatlng coil D wherein a low pressure or partial vacuum is maintained by the suction created by' jet exhauster E. A valve33 in ipe 20 serves to regulate the suction exerted y exhauster E, and hence thevacuum in coil D. A

As the relatively high pressure liquid re. frigerant is permitted to expand into the low pressure existing in coil D, it vwill the coil D is forcedby the jet exhauster E vaporize thus absorbing considerable quantities of heat from the space or substance adjacent coil D which are to be refrigerated. The low pressure vaporized refrigerant from of the liquid stream and more readily sep:

the liquid stream to the jet exhauster 17, this pipe 29 being provided with a control valve into 1hrompressor A where the gas is comi"y pressed and then forced, along` with the liquid stream through pipe 29, through condenser B, where the heat acquired in the `evaporator D during the vaporizing process is dissipated into the water flowing through the condenser, as the refrigerant is again liquefied. The compressed. vaporized refrigerant, when thus relieved of this heat, condenses and the cycle is vcompleted and this high pressurel liquid refrigerant is again ready to befed into the evaporator D.

A pressure relief valve 34 is located in outlet pipe 35 leading from tank 1, this valve i being set to open when a predetermined maX- imum is exceeded. Normally this valve will l remain closed. Tank 1 should also be proj vided with a draw-off or drain plug as indicated at 36.

A pipe connection 37 leads back from liquid receiver 31 to the central portion of tank A, this pipe being-provided with a cutoii' valve 38. The outlet 39 at the upper end of this tube will be closed by a valve 40 operated by float 41 when the liquid level in tank A is at or above a certain height. If the liquid level in tank A falls below that height, the valve 40 will open and surplus liquid from vthe circulating system can bev forced back through pipe 37 into the storage tankA.

It will .be noted that the high, velocity jet of liquid refrigerant circulated through the jet exhauster E not only-serves to provide the partial vacuum in the evaporator D but also serves to compress `the vaporized refrigerant in the tank A. Thestream of liquid l refrigerant forced through pipe 29 aids the pressure created by the jet exhauster in carrying the compressed vaporized refrigerant into and through the condenser B.

Withdrawn from storage tank 1 by centrifugal pump 4 is divided into two streams, one of whichis returned through the jet exhauster to the tank 1, and the other of which passes through the condenser and thence through the refrigerating cycle before being returned t'o tank 1. It is preferable, therelf`ore,'that the refrigerant be some material which exists in both the liquid and vapor form within the range of pressures that may A-be easily maintained by the jet exhauster E.

Examples of 'suitable' refrigerants are-dichloroethylene, and carbon tetrachloride. Numerous other mediums suitable for use as refrigerants in this system, will be apparent to thoseskilled in this art.

While one suitable form of jet exhauster has been illustrated, it will be apparent that numerous-other forms of exhausters operating on the ejector principle could be vsubstituted. Also other forms of vacuum pumps wherein the vacuum is produced by. means of a moving body of liquid, whether this liquid It will be noted that the liquid refrigerant A is rotating and operating centrifugally or projected longitudinally as: a jet, would suitable for use in this combination.

I claim: p 'Y 1, The method of refrigeration consisting in circulatingrefrigerant from a closed compression and storage space through a refrigerating space wherein 4it is vaporized, mechanically imparting motion to a portion of the liquid refrigerant and utilizing the energy of this moving liquid to lower the pressure inthe refrigeratin space, a' stream vof liquid refrigerant from t e compression sp ace also being forced together with compressed vaporized refrigerant into a condensing-space and thence into the refrigerating space.

2. The method of refrigeration consisting in circulating refrigerant from a closedcompression and storage space through a refrigerating space wherein itv is vaporized, mechanically imparting motion to a portion of the moving liquid to lower the pressure in the refrigerating space and to withdraw and compress the vapors formed therein, the remainder of the moving liquid being forced `through a condensing space along with the compressed vapors and thence into the refrigerating space. f

3. The method of refrigeration consisting in imparting motion 'to a stream of liquid refrigerant drawn from a closed compression and storage space, directing a portion of this stream into a refrigerating space wherein it is vaporized, and diverting the remainder of the stream `back intol the compression space and utilizing the energy of this latter stream to lower the pressure in the refrigerating space.

4. The method of refrigeration consisting in imparting motion to a stream of liquid refrigerant drawn from a closed compression Vand storage space, directing a portion of this to compress the vapor returned from the restream into a refrigerating space wherein it is vaporized, and diverting the remainder of the stream back into the compression space and utilizing the energy of this latter stream frigerating space.

5. The method of refrigeration consisting in imparting motion to a stream of liquid refrigerant drawn from a closed compression and storage space, directing a portion of this stream into a refrigerating space wherein it is vaporized, and diverting the remainder of the stream back into the compression space and utilizing the energy of this latter stream to lower the pressurenn the refrigerating space and to compress the vapor returned I from the refrigerating space.

6. The method of refrigeration consisting in imparting motion to a stream of liquid rei frigerant drawn from a closed compression 'and storage space, directing a portion of this stream through a condensing space and thence into a refrigeratingspace wherein it is` vaporized, and diverting the remainderl of the moving stream back into the compres-:f I

ysion space and utilizin the energy of this latter stream to lower t e pressure in the refrigerating space and compress the vapor returned into the compression space from the refrigerating space, the lirst mentioned portion of the liquid stream serving to propel the compressed vapors from the compression space through the -condensing space.

7 In a refrigerating apparatus' comprising a compression and storage tank, a condenser in open communication with the upper portion of the tank, and an evaporator, means for injecting vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator into the upper portion of thetank and thereby compressing same, and means for withdrawing liquid refrigerant fromthe lower portion of the tank and forcing same through the condenser.

8. In a refrigerating apparatus comprising a compression and storage tank, a condenser in open communication with the upper portion of the tank, and an evaporator, means for circulating liquid refrigerant from the lower portion of the tank back into the upper part of the tank and thereby injecting vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator vinto the tank, and means for forcing liquid refrigerant from the tank through the condenser.

9. In a refrigerating apparatus comprising a compression yand storage tank, a condenser in open communication with the upper portion of the tank, and an evaporator, a pumping mechanism for withdrawing liquid refrigerant from the lower portion of the tank and returning part of this refrigerant into the upper portion of the tank and thereby injecting vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator into the tank, said pumping mechanism also serving to force a stream of-liquid refrigerant through the condenser and thence into the evaporator.

10. A refrigeratingv apparatus comprising a compression and storage tank, a condenser in communication with the storage tank, an Aexpansion valve, an evaporator, a

frigerant from the evaporator and lower the pressure therein, and connections through which the pump forces 'liquid refrigerant from the tank through the condenser and expansion valve ,into the evaporator.

11. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a compression and storage tank, a condenser in communication with the storage tank, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a jet eX- hauster, and means for forcing two independent streams of liquid refrigerant from the tank, one stream flowing through the jet exhauster and back into the tank together with vaporized refrigerant withdrawn from the l evaporator, .and the vother stream owing through the condenser and expansion valve into the evaporator,

12. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a compression and storage ltank,a condenser, a pipe connection whereby gases may be forced from the upper portion ofthe storage tank into the condenser, a-*pump connected to withdraw liquid refrigerant from the lower portion of the tank, .a jet exhauster through which a portion of the liquid is forced by the pump, a pipe connection vthrough Which'the remainder of the Withdrawn liquid is forced by the pump into and through the condenser,l a refrigerating. coil in which the refrigerant is evaporated, a connection for conducting liquid refrigerant from lthe condenser to the refrigerating coil,

an expansion'valve in this connection, and a pipe connection leading from the evaporator to the jet exhauster through which vapor- 'ized refrigerant is Withdrawn.

DAVYID CROSTHWAIT,`JR. 

